Chain conveyer



May 18, 1943 MAMERRE 2,319,617

CHAIN- CONVEYER Original Filed Jan. 13, 1939 Patented May 18, 1943 UNITED STATE.

s parent OFFICE Original application January 13,

1939, Serial No.

256,038. Divided and this application February 7, 1941, Serial No. 377,794

3 Claims. (01. 198-189) This is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 256,038, filed January 13, 1939, and issued as Patent No. 2,250,933.

The invention relates generally to improvements in chain-conveyors and more particularly to a universally flexible flight-conveyer consisting of interconnected link having flights associated therewith for movement in unison one with each link.

An object of the invention is to provide a flight-conveyer including a conveyer chain of a type having a universal connection joining adjacent links, and flights novelly mounted at each connection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flight-conveyer novelly constructed to freely follow a straight or horizontally and vertically curved track during its movement, without causing the flight-conveyer to bind, twist or warp.

Another object is to provide a universally flexible chain with a plurality of overlapping relatively movable flights one connected for movement in unison with each link of said chain.

Another object is to provide a universally flexible flight-conveyer of a type embodying a vertically and horizontally flexible chain having novel structural features and which is inexpensive to construct and efficient in use.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds, will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a conveyer machine showing the improved flight-conveyer thereon.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the flightconveyer, showing parts progressively broken away to illustrate the structure thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the flight-conveyer showing portions broken away.

Although the improved flight-conveyer is readily adapted for use in any suitable organization designed or adapted for the conveyance of boxes, barrels, bags or other similar objects, it is primarily designed to be utilized in a conveyer machine of a type adapted for free uninterrupted movement through. doorways and into and out of. box-cars or the like. Such a machine, best shown in my aforementioned co-pending application, preferably include a plurality of substantially rectangular frame sections H pivotally connected end to end for horizontal swinging movement moved ing arm portions I'l.

relative to each other. One or more of the frame sections, such as for example, section Ila embodies structure adapting it to flex vertically so as to compensate for elevations or depressions in the surface along which the machine is It is apparent, therefore, that due to the free movement of the various frame sections, one relative to the other, either in a horizontal or vertical direction, the conveyer or other means provided thereon must of necessity embody a construction which will afford similar flexibility to prevent binding, warping or twisting. thereof.

As best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the improved conveyer organization includes a plurality of substantially rectangular flights I2 preferably formed of sheet material. Each flight is offset longitudinally so that one longitudinal margin partly underlies the next adjacent flight thereby providing a relatively smooth flight surface. A pintle I3 is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to and extends below each flight l2. Links l4, constituting the chain l5, are each substantially V-shaped and each preferably includes a body or apex portion l6 and two diverg- The body portion 16 of each link is apertured to receive snugly the lower end portion of one of the pintles 13. When the link is thus mounted, its arm portions I! embrace the body portion of an adjacent link M.

A cross-pin l8 extends through an opening in and is secured to each pintle I3. Its diametrically opposed extending end portions extend through elongated openings IS in the associated body portion. In this manner, the cross-pin l8 retains the body of the link on the pintle l3 and provides a horizontally disposed pivotal mounting for the embracing arm portions H, as shown.

Obviously, the flight-conveyer has universal flexibility to a sufficient degree to allow free movement of the flight-conveyer about any horizontal and vertical curvature assumed by the universal flexible conveyer frame during normal use.

It should be apparent that the instant structure is such that a substantially smooth unbroken flight surface is presented by the flight-conveyer at all times and that it may readily curve over sprockets or rollers provided at the conveyer machine ends without binding. The underlying margin of each flight l2 may be suitably cut out as at 2| to afford the necessary clearance and avoid contacting the pintle of the next adjacent flight mounting.

Although the description and disclosure concerns itself with a specific form of construction, it is to be understood that the instant description and disclosure is illustrative only and not restrictive; and that the invention may embody a wide variety of modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of appended claims.

I claim:

1. A'universally flexible chain-conveyer comprising, in combination, a plurality of substantially rectangular flights each having a pintle fixed therein and depending therefrom closely adjacent a longitudinal edge, each of said flights having its other edge portion oiiset longitudinally to partially underlie the adjacent flight, substantially V-shaped links each including an apex portion and two diverging arms, said links having their apex portions journaled one to each pintle, the arms thereof embracing the apex portion of the adjacent link, and a cross-pin anchored in each pintle and extending laterally through elongated openings in the apex portion of the link mounted on said pintle to provide a pivotal mounting at right angles to the pintle for the said embracing arms of the adjacent link, said links being spaced from the flights to provide clearance for the oiTset flight portions when the conveyer is flexed vertically.

2. A universally flexible chain-conveyor comprising, in combination, a plurality of flights each having a pintle fixed therein and depending therefrom, each of said flights being substantially rectangular and being offset longitudinally to partially underlie the adjacent flight, links each including a body and two arms, said links having their bodies journaled one to each pintle and spaced from the attached flight to provide working clearance for the underlying flight por tion, the arms thereof embracing the body of the adjacent link, and a cross-pin anchored in each pintle and extending laterally through elongated openings in the body of the link mounted on said pintle to provide a pivotal mounting at right angles to the pintle for the arms of the adjacent link.

3. A universally flexible chain-conveyer comprising, in combination, a plurality of substantially rectangular flights each having a fixed pintle depending from its bottom face midway between its ends and closely adjacent one longitudinal edge, said flights each being offset longitudinally downwardly adjacent its other longitudinal edge to partially underlie the adjacent flight and having a cut-out in said edge to effect clearance with the pintle of the adjacent flight, substantially V-shaped links each including an apex portion and two diverging arms, said links having their apex portions journaled one to each pintle, the arms thereof embracing the apex portion of the adjacent link, and a cross-pin anchored in each pintle and extending laterally through elongated openings in the apex portion of the link mounted on said pintle to provide a pivotal mounting at right angles to the pintle for the said embracing arms of the adjacent link.

GEORGE MANIERRE. 

